University of California cited for nuclear safety violations at Los Alamos National Lab

“The Energy Department cited the University of California for 15 nuclear safety violations at the Los Alamos National Lab, the department announced Feb. 26.
The violations stem from a series of incidents at the New Mexico lab in 2005. The University of California was managing the facility at the time the violations occurred. It now manages the facility as part of Los Alamos National Security LLC, which also includes partners Bechtel National, Washington Group International and BWX Technologies. In two cases, lab workers were contaminated with nuclear radiation. One of the workers spread the contamination outside the lab and state, according to Energy. While the radiation levels in both cases were below Energy limits for radiation doses, “the effects could have been significantly greater,” according to a statement released by the department. Inspections of the lab in November 2005 found the university had not properly enacted health, environment and safety programs. At the time the violations occurred, nonprofit groups were exempt from civil penalties, so the university will not have to pay $1.1 million in fines that the violations carry.”